Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter and record producer who debuted as a member of the K-pop group BTS in 2013. He has released two solo mixtapes, Agust D (2016) and D-2 (2020), and his debut solo album D-Day in 2023, which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Suga has over 150 songwriting and production credits, including Suran’s “Wine” which won Best R&B at the 2017 Melon Music Awards. He writes, composes, arranges, mixes and masters his own material, playing piano and producing mainly hip hop and R&B music. Suga completed his world tour and announced he would begin his mandatory military service as a social worker. He has a large following, being ranked among the most preferred idols in surveys conducted by Gallup Korea from 2017 to 2019.
How did Suga’s Health Issues Impact his Music Career
Suga’s long-term shoulder problems significantly hindered his ability to perform and participate in BTS activities, leading to missed opportunities and the need for surgery. He has been transparent about these issues and used his music to express his experiences. Suga’s long-standing shoulder issues have significantly impacted his music career:
- Suga has suffered from shoulder problems since before his debut with BTS in 2013, including a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum in his left shoulder. These issues caused him frequent pain and limited his ability to raise his arms high, affecting his performances.
- In November 2020, Suga underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder. This required him to take a break from BTS activities to fully recover, missing out on promotions for their album “BE”.
- Suga’s shoulder problems and the need for surgery impacted his ability to participate in official BTS activities and performances, including potentially missing end-of-year award shows.
- Despite ongoing treatment and rehabilitation over the years, Suga’s shoulder issues persisted and eventually required the surgical intervention to prepare for his mandatory military service and his post-service musical career.
- Suga has been open about his health struggles, even addressing them in his solo music. His 2016 song “The Last” from his first mixtape Agust D included veiled references to a previous suicide attempt related to his physical and mental health challenges.
Suga’s Most Popular Solo Tracks
- “Daechwita” – The lead single from his second mixtape D-2, released in 2020.
- “Agust D” – The title track from his debut solo mixtape Agust D, released in 2016. It reached #3 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
- “People” – Another single from D-2 that features Suga rapping about the struggles of fame and wanting to live a normal life.
- “Interlude: Shadow” – A solo track on BTS’ 2020 album Map of the Soul: 7 where Suga reflects on his fears of losing his passion for music.
- “First Love” – A song from Agust D where Suga compares his love for music to his first love, the piano, and how it has always been there for him through ups and downs.
